newbie

[SolidMetal]

Ok i'm new to building a arcade machine so if anyone can help answer these few questions i would be very grateful

1, how can i use a 21" tv with my pc
2, what do i need to order to hack a keyboard for the controls
3, is there any way in which mame can be started instead of going to the desktop on the pc

i have more questions but at the moment i think these will do to start with
thankyou SoildMetal

[Chad]

1. You will have to get a video card with s-video out. You can get a new one but there are plenty of second hand ATI cards out there that have s-video out. Check EBAY or a second hand computer store.
2. Read this:
http://people.smu.edu/cmadding/mame/downloads/keyboard%20hack.zip
It will tell you everything you need to know on how to hack a keyboard. Others will tell you use a keyboard encoder like the KE-24 you can read about it on this site. http://www.arcadecontrols.com/arcade_input.shtml#KE18-KE24
Which is OK too if you do not have the time to hack a keyboard.
3. You can use a MAME front end program and place the icon in the Windows Start Up Menu. I use EmuLoader because it has a parent lock on it. You can read about it at my site:
http://people.smu.edu/cmadding/mame/software.html
Other people just use more dos based program like ArcadeOS and they don't even start into Windows. I still needed to get to Windows so I chose A Windows based start up.

There are plenty of examples on this site alone to get you a finished product. Before I found this site I had no idea at all how to build an arcade cabinet. Just keep writing here if you get stuck along the way and you will get plenty of ways to get out of any problem.

Have fun.

[Lilwolf]

1) If the TV is composite, it might not give good enought output for you.  SVid is good, Composite isn't considered ok by most.

2) Best / easiest -> hardest / worst
 a) Encoder -> about 40 bucks - 100.  Many features.  You will NOT be disappointed... I've tried them all.. and this IS the best.  Changing keys, Easy to use, Easy to setup.  MK64/IPacs/Wizkeys/Hagstrom  They are ALL GREAT!

 b) Joystick hacking.  ->  Good!  If you can get enought buttons.  They dont have ghosting problems or matix problems (all buttons can be pressed without interfearing with each other).  Getting a USB one has the advantage of allowing multiples (so 2 usb controllers might be perfect for you).  EBay for a few bucks each.

 b.5)  Playstation / N64 controller hacking.  Not bad.  You might have them all around.  $15 item to convert it.  Good if you have some good arcade games that you would also want to play.

 c) keyboard hacking -> Sucky.  BUT CAN BE DONE!  Expect that you might NOT be able to use your keyboard, but others will work fine.  They all have different chips on them.  NONE are easy to hack.  Might not have any way to solder onto.  One keyboard might work, then getting the same brand/model might not.  You will spend a crap load of time trying to find combinations of keys that will work together.  IE, if you are doing this because you have extra time, and you want a cheap solution.  Try this....


3) Lots of ways.  Ways to change the bootup screens.  You can start directly in any frontend (easiest is to put it in your startup... or you can have it your entire desktop).  What OS are you running (98, XP?).  Startoff with putting a frontend in your startup directory.  After you get everything working, you can replace it with explorer as your desktop app.

good luck